Melon power!

Early autumn is the time to reap the bounty of food crops we’ve been waiting on all summer. At the top of the list? Melons. The naturally sweet, low-calorie, thirst-quenching delights reach their peak of ripeness in late August and September. In the U.S., you’re likely to find muskmelons (often called cantaloupes), casaba, honeydew and watermelon.

Melon provides a good blast of vitamin C (a cup a day has a day’s worth) and potassium, as well as B vitamins, calcium and iron. Orange-flesh-colored melons also are rich in beta-carotene, and watermelon has more lycopene than tomatoes. At just 50 calories per cup, melon is a good choice for dessert or a snack.

— University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter